Lesotho visa requirements · checked 26 August 2026

Visa & Entry Requirements for Lesotho

Q: What documents do I need to enter Lesotho?

Passport validity: The UK government says your passport must have an expiry date at least 90 days after the date you arrive in Lesotho and at least 4 blank pages, because Lesotho border control need to stamp it and so do South African border control on your way to and from Lesotho. Travel insurance: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists medical insurance among the requirements for an entry visa, including the tourist category. Return or onward ticket: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists a return ticket among the requirements for a visitor's entry visa. Proof of funds: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists, for a tourist entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement or a valid debit or credit card with sufficient funds to sustain the duration of stay, and, for a visitor's entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement of the sponsor or applicant (M10,000).

Q: How long can I stay in Lesotho without a visa?

Usually 14 days (16 passports); visa-free stays range from 14 to 90 days depending on your passport.

Most travellers can visit Lesotho without going to an embassy: 65 passports enter visa-free, 126 apply online for an eVisa.

Lesotho's Ministry of Home Affairs says every foreign citizen who wishes to visit must first obtain a visa through the Lesotho e-visa system, except citizens of countries with visa-abolition agreements with Lesotho and of some Commonwealth countries. Lesotho's embassy in Washington publishes a list of all countries whose citizens require or do not require a visa to enter Lesotho, and marks those whose citizens need one only to stay more than 14 days. The UK, Italian, Canadian and Australian governments say their citizens can visit without a visa.

Check your passport

Your passport

Destination

Passports visa-free

126

eVisa or eTA online

Embassy visa required

Do I need a visa for Lesotho? Quick answers

Another passport? Use the checker or find it in the table below.

Visa for Lesotho — requirements summary

Visa-free: 65 (33%)
eVisa: 126 (64%)
Visa required: 7 (4%)

All travellers must meet the entry rules set by Lesotho, and they depend on your nationality. Find your passport below — you may be able to enter visa-free, or need an eVisa, a visa on arrival or a visa from an embassy.

Passport	Requirement	Max stay	Details
Afghanistan	eVisa	—	Details →
Albania	eVisa	—	Details →
Algeria	Visa required	—	Details →
Andorra	eVisa	—	Details →
Angola	eVisa	—	Details →
Antigua and Barbuda	Visa-free	—	Details →
Argentina	eVisa	—	Details →
Armenia	eVisa	—	Details →
Australia	Visa-free	30 days	Details →
Austria	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Azerbaijan	eVisa	—	Details →
Bahamas	eVisa	—	Details →
Bahrain	eVisa	—	Details →
Bangladesh	eVisa	—	Details →
Barbados	Visa-free	—	Details →
Belarus	eVisa	—	Details →
Belgium	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Belize	Visa-free	—	Details →
Benin	eVisa	—	Details →
Bhutan	eVisa	—	Details →
Bolivia	eVisa	—	Details →
Bosnia and Herzegovina	eVisa	—	Details →
Botswana	Visa-free	—	Details →
Brazil	eVisa	—	Details →
Brunei	Visa-free	—	Details →
Bulgaria	eVisa	—	Details →
Burkina Faso	eVisa	—	Details →
Burundi	eVisa	—	Details →
Cambodia	eVisa	—	Details →
Cameroon	eVisa	—	Details →
Canada	Visa-free	30 days	Details →
Cape Verde	eVisa	—	Details →
Central African Republic	eVisa	—	Details →
Chad	eVisa	—	Details →
Chile	eVisa	—	Details →
China	eVisa	—	Details →
Colombia	eVisa	—	Details →
Comoros	eVisa	—	Details →
Costa Rica	eVisa	—	Details →
Côte d'Ivoire	eVisa	—	Details →
Croatia	eVisa	—	Details →
Cuba	eVisa	—	Details →
Cyprus	eVisa	—	Details →
Czechia	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Denmark	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Djibouti	eVisa	—	Details →
Dominica	Visa-free	—	Details →
Dominican Republic	Visa-free	—	Details →
DR Congo	eVisa	—	Details →
Ecuador	eVisa	—	Details →
Egypt	eVisa	—	Details →
El Salvador	eVisa	—	Details →
Equatorial Guinea	eVisa	—	Details →
Eritrea	eVisa	—	Details →
Estonia	eVisa	—	Details →
Eswatini	Visa-free	—	Details →
Ethiopia	eVisa	—	Details →
Fiji	Visa-free	—	Details →
Finland	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
France	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Gabon	eVisa	—	Details →
Gambia	Visa-free	—	Details →
Georgia	eVisa	—	Details →
Germany	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Ghana	Visa-free	—	Details →
Greece	eVisa	—	Details →
Grenada	Visa-free	—	Details →
Guatemala	eVisa	—	Details →
Guinea	eVisa	—	Details →
Guinea-Bissau	eVisa	—	Details →
Guyana	Visa-free	—	Details →
Haiti	eVisa	—	Details →
Honduras	eVisa	—	Details →
Hong Kong	Visa-free	—	Details →
Hungary	eVisa	—	Details →
Iceland	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
India	eVisa	—	Details →
Indonesia	eVisa	—	Details →
Iran	eVisa	—	Details →
Iraq	eVisa	—	Details →
Ireland	eVisa	—	Details →
Israel	Visa-free	—	Details →
Italy	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Jamaica	Visa-free	—	Details →
Japan	Visa-free	—	Details →
Jordan	eVisa	—	Details →
Kazakhstan	eVisa	—	Details →
Kenya	Visa-free	—	Details →
Kiribati	Visa-free	—	Details →
Kosovo	Visa required	—	Details →
Kuwait	eVisa	—	Details →
Kyrgyzstan	eVisa	—	Details →
Laos	eVisa	—	Details →
Latvia	eVisa	—	Details →
Lebanon	eVisa	—	Details →
Liberia	eVisa	—	Details →
Libya	eVisa	—	Details →
Liechtenstein	eVisa	—	Details →
Lithuania	eVisa	—	Details →
Luxembourg	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Macau	eVisa	—	Details →
Madagascar	Visa-free	—	Details →
Malawi	Visa-free	—	Details →
Malaysia	Visa-free	—	Details →
Maldives	eVisa	—	Details →
Mali	eVisa	—	Details →
Malta	eVisa	—	Details →
Marshall Islands	eVisa	—	Details →
Mauritania	eVisa	—	Details →
Mauritius	Visa-free	—	Details →
Mexico	eVisa	—	Details →
Micronesia	eVisa	—	Details →
Moldova	eVisa	—	Details →
Monaco	eVisa	—	Details →
Mongolia	eVisa	—	Details →
Montenegro	eVisa	—	Details →
Morocco	eVisa	—	Details →
Mozambique	Visa-free	—	Details →
Myanmar	eVisa	—	Details →
Namibia	Visa-free	—	Details →
Nauru	eVisa	—	Details →
Nepal	eVisa	—	Details →
Netherlands	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
New Zealand	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Nicaragua	eVisa	—	Details →
Niger	eVisa	—	Details →
Nigeria	eVisa	—	Details →
North Korea	Visa required	—	Details →
North Macedonia	eVisa	—	Details →
Norway	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Oman	eVisa	—	Details →
Pakistan	eVisa	—	Details →
Palau	Visa required	—	Details →
Palestine	Visa required	—	Details →
Panama	eVisa	—	Details →
Papua New Guinea	Visa-free	—	Details →
Paraguay	eVisa	—	Details →
Peru	eVisa	—	Details →
Philippines	eVisa	—	Details →
Poland	eVisa	—	Details →
Portugal	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Qatar	eVisa	—	Details →
Republic of the Congo	eVisa	—	Details →
Romania	eVisa	—	Details →
Russia	eVisa	—	Details →
Rwanda	eVisa	—	Details →
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Visa-free	—	Details →
Saint Lucia	Visa-free	—	Details →
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Visa-free	—	Details →
Samoa	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
San Marino	eVisa	—	Details →
Sao Tome and Principe	eVisa	—	Details →
Saudi Arabia	eVisa	—	Details →
Senegal	eVisa	—	Details →
Serbia	eVisa	—	Details →
Seychelles	Visa-free	—	Details →
Sierra Leone	Visa-free	—	Details →
Singapore	Visa-free	—	Details →
Slovakia	eVisa	—	Details →
Slovenia	eVisa	—	Details →
Solomon Islands	eVisa	—	Details →
Somalia	eVisa	—	Details →
South Africa	Visa-free	—	Details →
South Korea	Visa-free	—	Details →
South Sudan	Visa required	—	Details →
Spain	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Sri Lanka	Visa-free	—	Details →
Sudan	eVisa	—	Details →
Suriname	eVisa	—	Details →
Sweden	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Switzerland	Visa-free	14 days	Details →
Syria	eVisa	—	Details →
Taiwan	Visa required	—	Details →
Tajikistan	eVisa	—	Details →
Tanzania	Visa-free	—	Details →
Thailand	eVisa	—	Details →
Timor-Leste	eVisa	—	Details →
Togo	eVisa	—	Details →
Tonga	Visa-free	—	Details →
Trinidad and Tobago	Visa-free	—	Details →
Tunisia	eVisa	—	Details →
Türkiye	eVisa	—	Details →
Turkmenistan	eVisa	—	Details →
Tuvalu	Visa-free	—	Details →
Uganda	Visa-free	—	Details →
Ukraine	eVisa	—	Details →
United Arab Emirates	eVisa	—	Details →
United Kingdom	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
United States	Visa-free	—	Details →
Uruguay	eVisa	—	Details →
Uzbekistan	eVisa	—	Details →
Vanuatu	Visa-free	—	Details →
Vatican City	eVisa	—	Details →
Venezuela	eVisa	—	Details →
Vietnam	eVisa	—	Details →
Yemen	eVisa	—	Details →
Zambia	Visa-free	—	Details →
Zimbabwe	Visa-free	—	Details →

Lesotho visa types, fees and processing times

Visa approved by Home Affairs, with a 72-hour visa-on-arrival letter

eVisa

Processing: 3–5 business days

Fee not published — confirm with the embassy or consulate before you apply.

Entry visa

eVisa

Fee: 1,000 LSL
Processing: 3–5 business days
Entries: Single

Entry visa

eVisa

Fee: 2,000 LSL
Processing: 3–5 business days
Entries: Multiple

Temporary permit extension

Extension

Max stay: 90 days

Fee and processing time not published — confirm with the embassy or consulate before you apply.

Entry requirements for Lesotho

Passport validity

90 days

The UK government says your passport must have an expiry date at least 90 days after the date you arrive in Lesotho and at least 4 blank pages, because Lesotho border control need to stamp it and so do South African border control on your way to and from Lesotho.

UK Foreign Office — Lesotho entry requirements✓ Checked 2 Oct 2026

Blank passport pages

4 blank pages

Your passport needs at least 4 blank pages.

UK Foreign Office — Lesotho entry requirements✓ Checked 7 Oct 2026

Travel insurance

The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists medical insurance among the requirements for an entry visa, including the tourist category. No official source we could read states whether visa-free visitors need it.

Government of Lesotho — Service charter: Issuance of entry visa✓ Checked 9 Oct 2026

Return or onward ticket

The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists a return ticket among the requirements for a visitor's entry visa. No official source we could read states an onward-ticket check for visa-exempt visitors.

Government of Lesotho (gov.ls) — Service delivery charter for non-citizens (visa requirements)✓ Checked 9 Oct 2026

Proof of funds

3 months

The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists, for a tourist entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement or a valid debit or credit card with sufficient funds to sustain the duration of stay, and, for a visitor's entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement of the sponsor or applicant (M10,000). No official source we could read states an amount for visa-free arrivals.

Government of Lesotho — Service charter: Issuance of entry visa✓ Checked 9 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

The UK government says that if you overstay without permission, the Lesotho authorities may detain you and will charge you weekly fines. No Lesotho official page we could read states the amount.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Lesotho travel advice: entry requirements✓ Checked 12 Oct 2026

Customs allowances

The UK government says to declare cash or travellers cheques in any currency if the value is 25,000 maloti or more; if you do not, the authorities could seize your money when you leave and you could be fined. It says the loti is pegged to the South African rand one-to-one, and both currencies are accepted throughout Lesotho.

UK Foreign Office — Lesotho entry requirements✓ Checked 2 Oct 2026

Lesotho visa requirements statistics

198

Passports covered

126

Most common: eVisa

Least common: Visa required

33%

Visa-free access

Visa-free stays by length

90 days · 3 passports
30 days · 2 passports
14 days · 16 passports

Understanding Lesotho visa requirements

We track the entry rules of Lesotho for 198 passports. The most common situation is eVisa, which applies to 126 passports (64%). 33% of passports can enter without a visa. The least common is visa required (7 passports).

Entry categories for Lesotho

Visa-free entry: 65 passports can enter without a visa, for stays from 14 to 90 days.
eVisa: 126 passports can apply for an electronic visa online.
Visa required: 7 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate.

What else you need to enter Lesotho

Passport validity: The UK government says your passport must have an expiry date at least 90 days after the date you arrive in Lesotho and at least 4 blank pages, because Lesotho border control need to stamp it and so do South African border control on your way to and from Lesotho.
Travel insurance: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists medical insurance among the requirements for an entry visa, including the tourist category.
Return or onward ticket: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists a return ticket among the requirements for a visitor's entry visa.
Proof of funds: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists, for a tourist entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement or a valid debit or credit card with sufficient funds to sustain the duration of stay, and, for a visitor's entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement of the sponsor or applicant (M10,000).

Open your passport in the table for the exact rules — maximum stay, fees, how to apply and the official source. Entry rules change at short notice: confirm with the embassy of Lesotho or its official immigration website before you travel.

Frequently asked questions about Lesotho visas

Do I need a visa for Lesotho?

Lesotho's Ministry of Home Affairs says every foreign citizen who wishes to visit must first obtain a visa through the Lesotho e-visa system unless their country has a visa-abolition agreement with Lesotho or is one of the Commonwealth countries it exempts. Lesotho's embassy in Washington publishes a list of all countries whose citizens require or do not require a visa to enter Lesotho, and marks those whose citizens need one only to stay more than 14 days. The UK government says British visitors can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, and Italy's foreign ministry says no visa is needed for tourism up to 90 days; Canada says no tourist visa is required for stays up to 30 days, and Australia says tourists can enter for up to 30 days without a visa.

Can I visit Lesotho on a day trip from South Africa?

The UK government says all visitors to Lesotho must travel through South Africa, whether by air or land, and must meet South Africa's entry requirements, and that Lesotho border control and South African border control both need to stamp your passport. Canada's travel advice says you must have a four-wheel-drive vehicle to enter and depart Lesotho through the Sani Pass.

Can I extend my stay in Lesotho?

The UK government says you can extend your stay by completing a 90-day temporary permit extension form and taking it to the Visa Application Centre in the Manthabiseng Convention Centre, Maseru; your passport will need to be valid for the extension period, and if you overstay without permission the authorities may detain you and will charge you weekly fines.

Can I still apply for a Lesotho visa online?

Lesotho's Ministry of Home Affairs says visas are obtained through the Lesotho e-visa system, but no official source we could read offers a working online visa application for Lesotho. The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists the documents required for an entry visa.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Lesotho?

WHO's country list says Lesotho has no yellow fever requirement at entry; Australia's Smartraveller says you'll need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Lesotho if you are travelling from a country where yellow fever occurs, and Italy's foreign ministry says it is mandatory for travellers over 9 months of age coming from countries at risk or who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in one. South Africa, which the UK government says all visitors to Lesotho must travel through, requires proof of vaccination from travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and from those who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of such a country, according to WHO.

Do US citizens need a visa for Lesotho?

US citizens can visit Lesotho visa-free. Full rules for United States passport holders.

Do UK citizens need a visa for Lesotho?

UK citizens can visit Lesotho visa-free for 90 days. Full rules for United Kingdom passport holders.

Do German citizens need a visa for Lesotho?

German citizens can visit Lesotho visa-free for 14 days. Full rules for Germany passport holders.

What documents do I need to enter Lesotho?

Passport validity: The UK government says your passport must have an expiry date at least 90 days after the date you arrive in Lesotho and at least 4 blank pages, because Lesotho border control need to stamp it and so do South African border control on your way to and from Lesotho. Travel insurance: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists medical insurance among the requirements for an entry visa, including the tourist category. Return or onward ticket: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists a return ticket among the requirements for a visitor's entry visa. Proof of funds: The Government of Lesotho's service charter lists, for a tourist entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement or a valid debit or credit card with sufficient funds to sustain the duration of stay, and, for a visitor's entry visa, a 3 months' bank statement of the sponsor or applicant (M10,000).

How long can I stay in Lesotho without a visa?

Usually 14 days (16 passports); visa-free stays range from 14 to 90 days depending on your passport.

How many countries can visit Lesotho without a visa?

65 of 198 passports can enter Lesotho visa-free (33%). 126 can apply online (eVisa or eTA), and 7 need a visa from an embassy.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0) — official sources are linked on each passport page. Gaps filled from the Passport Index dataset (MIT).

Check other requirements

Travelling from Lesotho?

Where can Lesotho citizens travel visa-free?

Lesotho passport holders can visit 45 countries without a visa. Open a country for the exact rules.

Map and full list →